Macy's may bring Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza back to the East River

By Mark Morales and Lore Croghan

|NEW YORK DAILY NEWS|

Jul 23, 2012 | 3:00 AM

The spectacular Macy’s Fourth of July show may return to the East River for the first time since 2008. (John Tracy for New York Daily News)

Macy's is considering a return of its famed Fourth of July fireworks to the East River — a move that would thrill Brooklyn and Queens residents who lost their view of the display for four straight years, the Daily News has learned.

Bending to outer-borough pressure, Macy's execs and top people in its fireworks operations have agreed to meet soon with pols to discuss moving the dazzling show off the Hudson River for the first time since 2009.

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"Macy's has expressed willingness to move to the East River," said a source involved with the talks.

"Macy's has been receptive to sitting down and discussing solutions," the source said. "We're optimistic that soon there will be good news."

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn Heights) have been in talks by phone for months with Macy's about a possible venue change for the iconic Independence Day celebration.

Spectators "ooh" and "ahh" on roof of a building next to the East River on 20th St. during past Macy's Fourth of July celebration. (Todd Maisel/New York Daily News)

The sit-down will be local elected officials' first face-to-face discussion about the fireworks with Macy's execs.

"The fireworks," said de Blasio, "belong" in the East River. "Outer-borough New Yorkers deserve to be part of the city's Fourth of July celebration too."

After three decades on the East River, the patriotic show shifted in 2009 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage up the waterway that would eventually bear his name. The westward move was a boon to New Jersey residents and businesses and residents on Manhattan's far West Side.

A return to the East River "would allow millions of New Yorkers to join the celebration and provide communities and businesses with the economic spark they need," Squadron said.

Fireworks Display at East River between 14th street and 47th street, Manhattan. 4th of July. Fourth. Macy's. (Davis, Clarence)

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is invited to the coming confab, where pols will present a petition that now has 3,100 signatures urging the show be shifted to its former locale.

Macy's fireworks display, America's largest, made its magic this year with 40,000 shells launched from four barges on a picture-perfect night.

Macy's has not determined what the fireworks' next location will be, a spokesman said. "As we have consistently stated, Macy's fireworks will take place in and around all accessible New York City waterways and will not be a permanent fixture at any one location," said Orlando Veras.

City Councilman Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn Heights) hopes Macy's realizes that they need to come back to the East River.

"They couldn't come back soon enough — and we will welcome them with open arms," said Levin, who plans to attend the meeting.

"I'm from New Jersey. I've got nothing but love for New Jersey," he said, "but the fact of the matter is there is nothing quite as spectacular as Fourth of July fireworks over New York Harbor."